One, if not shocked, was surprised to see what one of our independent TV channels showed a few days back. Models wearing skinny fabrics were doing catwalk. This is what our old PTV has never shown and will probably never.
And this is not all. Weeks ago when 'Nuclear Proliferation' issue was on its zenith, our liberal media took its full part in a criticizing manner which ended up making President Musharraf harsh toward them.
There are some other important issues that these channels should bring under limelight. A case in point is the ongoing US-led war in Iraq. Saddam has been captured; there are no signs of Weapons of Mass Destruction; and no exist way is seemed for the US. Here needs great criticism in order to ensure the Muslim world that our media can do same as the West's is doing about us.
Another fact, most of the people don't ponder on, is that these private TV channels are backed by some big shots who are somehow connected with their respective political parties. And consequently these channels are bound to obey these VIPs.
In addition, since private channels have been allowed to work freely they are not letting a minor issue go away from their hands. Our media is very swift in bringing news updates. But in the field of science and education, there seems not work. Unfortunately, one has to give examples of our foe-turned-friend India where a 24-hour channel (National Geographic Channel) has been translated in Hindi language to make it easy to understand for their uneducated majority of people.
Does this make our media liberal? Or is it even worsening?
What President Musharraf said in the Ulema and Mashaikh conference in Islamabad, seems quite fit for these private channels. He said that every body knew 'what to do' but 'how to do' is something nobody had anything to say about.
On almost every channel, we hear a lot of criticism being made for the government and its departments. But there is no intellectual having appropriate suggestions.
In doesn't mean that they should never criticize the government officials for their wrongdoings, since we do know our governmental departments are quite weak and lazy in taking actions. But, it is useless to criticize unless the criticism carries some nice advise.
All the technological innovations carry a baggage of merits as well as demerits, and consequently effect human perspective and way of life. TV channels are no exception. TV channels can play crucial role in bringing awareness in our country and in portraying a beautiful picture of our country and Islam in the world.
We all should pray that may our media act wisely and operate in our very 'National Interest'.